UFC Unfiltered with Jim Norton and Matt Serra

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Unpacking UFC 322 & welterweight title picture, Johnny Walker plots next moves Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

With Islam Makhachev dethroning Jack Della Maddalena on a historic night stamped by show-stealing wins from rising welterweight contenders, Jim and Matt have plenty to unpack on today’s UFC 322 recap show. The guys break down the championship shakeup at 170, Valentina Shevchenko’s flawless title defense, and all the biggest moments from Saturday’s card.

They’re then joined by Johnny Walker, who hops on the show to talk fatherhood, his recent knockout win in China, and where he fits in the suddenly chaotic light heavyweight picture.

After Johnny’s interview wraps, Jim and Matt take a deep dive into Makhachev’s future at welterweight — debating where Ilia Topuria stands among contenders vying for the first crack at the newest double champion’s 170-pound UFC crown.

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Malcolm Wellmaker, Tracy Cortez, UFC 322 picks w/ guest co-host The Schmo Nov 13, 2025

Show notes

With The Schmo filling in for Jim Norton, Matt Serra kicks off the show with undefeated bantamweight Malcolm Wellmaker ahead of his Madison Square Garden debut. “The Machine” talks managing expectations after two first-round UFC finishes, adjusting to a late opponent change, and how nine years as a welder shaped the discipline behind his undefeated rise.

Matt and The Schmo then dive deep into UFC 322 — breaking down Bo Nickal vs. Rodolfo Vieira and every fight thereafter on the PPV main card. The duo debate who’s primed for their big “Schmo-ment” on Saturday and who may keep their “Schmo-mentum” rolling in the night’s two championship bouts.

Finally, Tracy Cortez joins the show to preview her high-stakes rematch with Erin Blanchfield. The #8 flyweight contender reflects on what she remembers from her razor-thin win over Blanchfield years ago before unpacking how a victory at Madison Square Garden could vault her into the title mix.

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Mackenzie Dern eyes long title reign, Zachary Reese on short-notice win, UFC Fight Night: Bonfim vs. Brown recap Nov 11, 2025

Show notes

Jim Norton and Matt Serra kick off UFC 322 fight week with a pair of recent winners — UFC strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern and rising middleweight Zachary Reese.

First, Mackenzie joins the show fresh off winning UFC gold to discuss the emotion of celebrating with her daughter cageside, her evolution under coach Jason Parillo, and her readiness for whoever comes next — whether that be Tatiana Suarez or Zhang Weili after Saturday’s co-main vs. Valentina Shevchenko.

Then, Zachary Reese calls in just days after his wild short-notice victory in Las Vegas. The Texas native breaks down how the fight came together, how sparring five rounds with Sean Strickland boosted his confidence, and what he plans to do with his $50K bonus.

Plus, Jim and Matt react to this past weekend’s APEX card headlined by Gabriel Bonfim and Randy Brown.

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Gabriel Bonfim, Christian Leroy Duncan, UFC Fight Night: Bonfim vs. Brown picks Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

Jim Norton and Matt Serra return for Wednesday’s episode of UFC Unfiltered ahead of this weekend’s UFC Fight Night: Bonfim vs. Brown card at the APEX.

Accompanied by the great Fabiano Buskei as a Portuguese translator, 14th-ranked welterweight Gabriel Bonfim joins the show to discuss his main event matchup against Randy Brown, the importance of fighting alongside his brother Ismael, and how he’s balancing patience and hunger in pursuit of a Top 10 ranking.

Then, Christian Leroy Duncan stops by to preview his main card bout against Marco Tulio. The British middleweight uses his Unfiltered debut to discuss how the end of his collegiate basketball career sparked his MMA journey. As Matt asks CLD about the influence of ex-UFC fighter Mark Weir on his life, Duncan shifts the camera towards his longtime coach to catch up with Matt.

Don’t miss as Jim and Matt make their picks for this weekend’s card!

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Valter Walker, Quillan Salkilld, UFC Fight Night: Garcia vs. Onama recap Nov 04, 2025

Show notes

Jim Norton and Matt Serra are back to kick off fight week with two guests who’ve both made major statements inside the Octagon in recent weeks.

On the heels of yet another heel hook submission, heavyweight submission specialist Valter Walker uses his UFC Unfiltered debut to talk through his UFC 321 victory in Abu Dhabi, reflect on his MMA journey, and break down what’s next as he looks to heal up from a leg injury sustained in his fight.

Then, lightweight Quillan Salkilld stays up late in his native Perth, Australia to talk about his scintillating head kick knockout that instantly went viral as a leading contender for KO of the year. The Australian prospect reflects on taking the fight vs. Nasrat Haqparast on short notice and how he went from playing the UFC video game to putting himself in one.

Plus, Jim and Matt dish their thoughts on this past weekend’s fights, with room for a chat on where Steve Garcia fits in among the featherweight division’s best after a statement performance in the main event.

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Steve Garcia, Jeremiah Wells, UFC Fight Night: Garcia vs. Onama picks Oct 30, 2025

Show notes

Two days removed from their chat with David Onama, Jim Norton and Matt Serra return for a Wednesday episode with his opponent in Saturday’s main event — 12th-ranked featherweight Steve Garcia.

The Albuquerque native joins the show to discuss his six-fight win streak, his ongoing callout, and why this matchup with Onama feels like the biggest moment of his career.

Then, Jeremiah Wells stops by ahead of his first fight in nearly 20 months to talk about his comeback, training alongside Sean Brady at Marquez MMA, and how he approaches watching film before his matchup with Themba Gorimbo.

Plus, Jim and Matt each make a few picks from this weekend’s card as they look to create some separation in their hotly contested prediction battle.

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Charles Jourdain talks Vancouver win, David Onama on first main event, UFC 321 reactions Oct 28, 2025

Show notes

Jim Norton and Matt Serra kick off the show reacting to the wild ending of UFC 321’s main event — sharing their thoughts on Ciryl Gane’s dominant first round against Tom Aspinall before the anticlimactic finish via accidental eye poke. Both hosts agree they want to see that fight run back — and while Jim pulled ahead of Matt in the week’s win-loss standings, he still trails by 13.5 points overall.

Then, fresh off a first-round submission win over Davey Grant in Vancouver, Charles Jourdain discusses his perfect 2-0 start since moving down to bantamweight, what it’s been like finding success at 135 lbs., and the pride of watching his younger brother Louis earn a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series.

Finally, David Onama joins the show to preview his first UFC main event against Steve Garcia. The Factory X featherweight opens up about his journey from Uganda to Kansas City, his growth under Marc Montoya, and his mindset heading into the biggest fight of his career.

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Merab Dvalishvili eyes fourth title defense, Glover Teixeira on Pereira’s future, UFC 321 picks Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

Jim Norton and Matt Serra are joined by reigning UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, who returns for his 15th appearance on Unfiltered — just weeks after a whirlwind stretch that saw him defend his title on a Saturday and celebrate Aljamain Sterling’s wedding the very next day.

Merab discusses staying hungry now that he’s beaten nearly everyone in his division, eyeing a UFC-record fourth title defense of 2025 at UFC 323, and his thoughts on Petr Yan’s resurgence, Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Mario Bautista, and whether a featherweight move is viable in the near future.

Then, former light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira joins the show to reflect on Alex Pereira surprising him with a brand-new blue pickup truck, how proud he was seeing Pereira show class after his latest win, and what he thinks of his potential in the heavyweight division.

Plus, Jim and Matt look ahead to UFC 321 fight week and share which upcoming matchups have them the most excited.

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Drew Dober’s victory lap, Canada’s Melissa Croden talks debut win on home soil, UFC Vancouver recap Oct 21, 2025

Show notes

Jim Norton and Matt Serra are joined by lightweight knockout artist Drew Dober fresh off his record-setting 10th UFC lightweight KO — a win that came the same weekend he turned 37 years old.

Dober opens up about balancing the pressures of a three-fight skid with life as a father to a two-year-old daughter, celebrating the victory with Krispy Kreme, and why sharpening his ground game is his next focus as he continues to evolve as a martial artist.

Then, Melissa Croden makes her first appearance on the show — joined by her friend’s rabbit, Eddie, in the first official rabbit cameo in UFC Unfiltered history. After reflecting on the thrill of winning her UFC debut in front of home fans, the Canadian bantamweight shares how a spontaneous three-month break from her paramedic job to train in Thailand helped her realize she had what it takes to pursue MMA at the highest level — while still dabbling in the profession she loves in the way Stipe Miocic did as a firefighter.

Plus, Jim and Matt break down what they got right (and wrong) from their UFC Vancouver picks.

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Mike Malott & Kevin Holland join ahead of co-main clash, UFC Vancouver picks Oct 16, 2025

Show notes

Jim Norton and Matt Serra are joined by both sides of UFC Vancouver’s co-main event — Kevin Holland and Mike Malott — just days before the welterweights step into the Octagon.

Mike Malott stops by first to talk about representing Canada once again on home soil. Well aware of the danger Holland presents, he breaks down their matchup and shares what a win would mean for a Malott family riding its own athletic high — with younger brother Jeff making noise in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings.

Then, Kevin Holland calls in ahead of his fifth fight of 2025 to explain his approach to fighting Malott and reveal which highly-respected veteran he’s chasing for fight number SIX of the year if all goes to plan in Vancouver on Saturday.

Plus, Jim and Matt break down the UFC Vancouver card headlined by Reinier de Ridder vs. Brendan Allen with some picks of their own.

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